Box Score
Junior Brooke Maher recorder her fourth consecutive double-double to lead the University of Evansville volleyball team to a 3-0 sweep over Indiana State (27-25, 25-17, 25-20). With the win, the Aces improve to 16-3 on the season and 5-2 in the Missouri Valley Conference.
Maher ended the night with 15 kills, 10 digs, two service aces and a pair of block assists. Junior Kaisi Nixon led the offense with a career-high attack percentage of .444 with 15 kills and four block assists of her own. Freshman Katie Klages once again led the defensive effort, totaling 15 of the Aces’ 53 digs of the night.
“This was a key weekend for us, and I am very pleased with how we stepped up,” said head coach Mike Swan. “Even when we were behind, I thought we played with poise and control. Especially during the first set when it could have gone either way.”
With the exception of senior Emily Wandersee, who was sidelined for the fourth-consecutive game due to an ankle injury, everybody in the Aces’ lineup saw playing time in the win. As a team, the Aces ended the night with a .261 attack percentage and seven total blocks. UE’s service line posted six aces on the night.
“I’m really glad that the entire team had a part in this win,” added Swan. “Not only did everybody get time, but they all contributed in a positive manner, which is very good.”
The Aces were off to a rough start in set one, finding themselves struggling to catch up to the Sycamores’ lead. Down 12-7, the Aces managed to come back to tie it up at 15-all, but still had to fight to maintain the offensive lead. The Sycamores threatened to steal the game when they tied it up at 25-all, but a kill by Maher swung the momentum back towards the Aces. A Sycamore attack error gave UE the final point and the 27-25 win.
The Aces rebounded from their slow start and jumped out to a 15-4 lead to start game two. Controlling the game for the rest of the set, the Aces put up 15 kills and four service aces as they took the win with a final score of 25-17.
The Aces were down 2-0 in the beginning of the final set, but four-consecutive Aces kills sparked a rally that ended with an Aces 11-6 lead. Maher and Nixon each tallied six kills as UE ran the score to a 25-20 win.
The Aces will return to action next weekend as they travel to Missouri State and Wichita State.
